Alfred B. Xuma

"One of the most influential black South African leaders of his generation, Alfred Bitini Xuma (1893-1962) has been praised, criticized, obscured, and now partly forgotten." "In this political biography, Steven D. Gish situates Alfred B. Xuma's life within the context of black South African nationalism, illuminating a key transition period in African protest politics. Gish furthermore explores the impact of African American ideas on Xuma's political thought and the degree to which Xuma reshaped these ideas to fit the South African political climate of the 1930s and the 1940s. By tracing Xuma's reaction to white paternalism and "trusteeship," Gish demonstrates that the philosophy of "Africanism" had earlier roots than previously thought." "A thorough examination of Alfred B. Xuma's life and times, Gish's study not only broadens our understanding of African nationalism at a crucial period, but also sheds light on white liberalism, Pan Africanism, and the world of the educated African elite."--Jacket.